Bette Midler's portrayal of a witch in the classic film "Hocus Pocus" has enchanted audiences for decades. Her captivating performance, combined with the film's Halloween theme and whimsical plot, has made her portrayal memorable and beloved. Midler effortlessly embodies the mischievous yet glamorous character of Winifred Sanderson, a witch who is resurrected along with her sisters after 300 years. From the moment Midler appears on screen, her presence is commanding. She exudes a magnetic energy that draws viewers in and holds their attention throughout the film. Her physicality and facial expressions perfectly convey her character's wickedness and determination, while also infusing a sense of humor and charisma.
Her physicality and facial expressions perfectly convey her character's wickedness and determination, while also infusing a sense of humor and charisma. One of the highlights of Midler's performance is her musical numbers, particularly the iconic "I Put a Spell on You." Midler's powerful vocals and theatrical delivery make this song a showstopper, showcasing her undeniable talent as a singer and performer.
Bette Midler enchanting as a witch
Disney continues its long relationship with witches through a trio of 17th-century sorceresses. They are far from role models, mind you, but they are possessed of spunk and spirit though dead these 300 years. How could it be otherwise with Bette Midler camping it up as queen of the coven?
Enchanting in beaver teeth and a hairdo from Hell, Midler plays the eldest of the Sanderson Sisters -- all of whom are hanged in the movie's prologue for sucking the life force out of a pretty little colonial. (It combats aging.) The child's brother, whom they turn into a talking cat -- a black shorthair named Binx -- for all eternity, has been guarding the old Sanderson house ever since.
Binx (Sean Murray meowing behind computer-generated lips) tries but fails to stop a 20th-century teenage virgin -- much is made of this unnatural state -- named Max (Omri Katz) from conjuring up the three toil-and-troublemakers on Halloween Night in Salem. A nonbeliever newly arrived from L.A., Max is flouting local taboos to impress a pretty classmate, Allison (Vinessa Shaw), and his plucky kid sister, Dani (Thora Birch). Lucky thing, too, because without Bette and her cohorts -- Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy -- the movie falls in on itself like a rotten jack-o'-lantern.
What follows is a series of chases through the cemeteries and trick-or-treater-clogged streets of the quaint New England village. To remain in Salem for eternity, the gals must reclaim their book of potions, concoct a magical brew of dead men's toes and witch spit, and summon a small child -- they want Dani -- and absorb her youthful juices, leaving her a pint-sized granny. The fun never stops around this caldron.
For the kids it's nip and tuck, though they do get an assist from an old ghoulfriend of the sisters' and that darn Binx. At one point the faithful feline is run over by a school bus, to Dani's dismay, but cursed with immortality, the squashed beast reinflates like a birthday balloon before her teary eyes. And you think your cat knows some tricks.
There's even a production number, with Bette belting "I'm Gonna Put a Spell on You." Only she doesn't, quite. But it's not up to her. The movie needs a little more focus and a lot less pocus.
Except for the 11-year-old Birch, a precocious scene-stealer with a smidgen of Midlerian sass, the kids can't disguise the essential mediocrity of the material. Midler and Najimy (a singing nun in "Sister Act") know from broom shtick, and their antics are aided by some electrifying special effects. Parker, who plays a boy-crazy crone with the brains of a newt, is politically incorrect, but what are you going to do?
"Hocus Pocus" is really two movies -- a sophomoric caper for teenage boys and a dark lark for fans of Disney farce, an abracadabra "Sister Act." Both of them are failures. Kenny Ortega, the choreographer of "Dirty Dancing" who turned director with "Newsies," doesn't dawdle over the material, but he doesn't manage to unify it either. That would take Rosemary's Baby himself.
"Hocus Pocus" is rated PG and is mildly suggestive and slightly scary.
MIDLER: We suggested that there be songs. That was our big contribution. We said, "They have to sing." We made suggestions as far as songs were concerned, and we went to the barricades on that. It was a collaborative effort where we were happy to defend our choices and also compromise.
Aside from her musical prowess, Midler's portrayal of Winifred Sanderson is layered and nuanced. She brings depth to the character, showing glimpses of vulnerability and longing beneath her intimidating exterior. This complexity makes Winifred Sanderson a memorable villain, one that audiences can't help but be enchanted by. Midler's chemistry with her on-screen sisters, played by Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker, is another aspect that adds to the film's enchantment. Their comedic timing and dynamic interactions create a delightful trio of witches, whose banter and bickering provide many of the film's comedic moments. Overall, Bette Midler's portrayal of Winifred Sanderson in "Hocus Pocus" is nothing short of enchanting. Her captivating performance, combined with the film's Halloween magic, makes her portrayal of a witch a standout in her illustrious career. The film has become a beloved Halloween classic, and Midler's Witch remains an iconic and memorable character in the world of cinema..
Reviews for "Bette Midler's Witchcraft Transforms the Screen Once Again"
1. Jenna - 2 stars: I was really looking forward to seeing Bette Midler play a witch, but I was disappointed by her performance in this film. I felt like she overacted and her portrayal of the character was cheesy and stereotypical. The dialogue was also cringe-worthy at times, and I found myself rolling my eyes instead of being immersed in the story. Overall, I think this movie could have been much better if they had cast someone else in the role.
2. John - 2.5 stars: While Bette Midler is a talented actress, I didn't find her portrayal of a witch in this film to be enchanting at all. In fact, I found it to be quite over the top and forced. The character felt more like a caricature than a fully fleshed out individual, and I struggled to connect with her throughout the movie. Additionally, the plot itself was predictable and lacked depth, making it difficult to fully invest in the story. Overall, I was underwhelmed by Midler's performance and the film as a whole.
3. Sarah - 3 stars: I have always been a fan of Bette Midler, but I didn't find her performance as a witch in this movie to be particularly captivating. While she had some humorous moments, I felt like her character was a bit one-dimensional and lacked the depth and complexity that I was hoping for. The story itself was a bit formulaic and didn't bring anything new or exciting to the table. While it wasn't a terrible movie, it didn't live up to my expectations and left me feeling somewhat disappointed.